I had a bit of time to post on Friday but I thought I would bore you silly. The week consisted of a little grocery shopping, a little shopping spree with Emily for her birthday, and a lot of puttering in the garden. The battle continues with the squirrels. They now know they cannot reach the bird feeder so they scramble around the patio eating seeds that my sloppy little birds drop. Then, and I don't think they are trying to tuck away the seeds for later, but they have been digging in my pots and popping flowers out left and right. This morning after being at the lake for several days, I found dead little flowers all over, they had just dried up. The feeder was empty and I thought maybe I just wouldn't fill it again. Seriously, I may have to move it and then I'll never hear them or watch their little antics. I did have a tray of flowers I brought home with me so I potted them up in the poor old pots and I have them spread around, just not on the patio where I like the pop of colors. Sigh.

A funny thing sort of happened...serendipity~like. Every year we get a truckload of sand delivered. It's a long and back breaking job for The Husband to shovel and wheel barrow it into the lake, going out about ten feet so we have a sandy bottom rather then muck. It takes an entire day if he does it alone, a half day if he has another guy to help. And this year we actually had it delivered when we weren't there so instead of the guys dumping the truckload on the beach, they dumped it in the driveway, not close to the beach at all. About 4:00 Saturday afternoon, The Husband laid down for a little nap. He was tired and sunburned and hadn't made a dent in the sand. I worked on the patio cleaning the table and chairs, sweeping and arranging everything...just trying to make it livable, when a stranger appeared. He said he was working on a beach a few houses down and it looked like we needed help. I was like, "Sure! When can you start?" And he replied that his crew was in between jobs and they could start that minute and be done in an hour or less. I nearly fell over. Within 5 minutes I had eight guys there with 8 wheel barrows making the trip from driveway to water and back and forth and each time one went by me I was beaming! The Husband came downstairs and outside after hearing the commotion and I thought he was going to keel over. And you want to hear what's funny? These guys call themselves The Beach Boys! And the Husband made sure he got their card! Darn, I should have gotten pictures of the whole thing. I hope I didn't bore you, but this whole weekend ritual of getting this place in shape is just something else.

Languishing with a Blue Moon - now that would make my husband happy. Next year I'll remind you to get that service to come and you remind me too. OK? Maybe we should do it right before the Christmas holidays too. :)

Glad you had the "BEACH BOYS" to help you out, wondering if they did some singing too! ;-) Love the nautical wall gallery, it doesn't matter, water is water. :-) Remind hubs to slather on some sunblock or else spray him yourself if he refuses! Hope he still felt special on Fathers day, I'm sure you made sure of that Jane. :-)

Jane, keep the number for the Beach Boys close at hand, next to the phone. What a nice gift for your hubby that they moved all that sand.Don't feel you need to post 2 or 3 times a week, I post about once a week and that is more relaxing. Your Lake House is gorgeous.

I loved this post..not exactly sure but it was just...so..neat. Having sudden help..getting things done and the thing is, Jane, you will one day not have the energy to do all you are doing now. Enjoy it my sweet friend. Time is racing past you at break neck speed. These past six years have made such a difference in what I can and cannot do anymore. I keep going..being careful not to fall..stumble over things..and realizing there are things I can't do anymore is so difficult.So..enjoy! Wish I was back able to do the things you are doing!! :)Hugs!! AND..thank you for your sweet comment. :) Made me feel so good.Mona

Jane - it's nice to see you when your posts pop up, so don't worry about frequency of blogging. It's about quality, not quantity, and I always enjoy your posts.Getting a family home on a lake ready for the season sounds like a monumental task! I can't even imagine moving all that sand.

It is so good to have a second home which is so very different from the main house, but it does bring just the kind of problems which you outline here. There is always so much to get ready after a winter hibernation and preparing for people visiting is also a job!

Whatever, it was so good that the Beach Boys arrived when they did and perhaps they can be commissioned annually!

Your wall looks great fun with all its new additions and the barbecue looks to be a very serious piece of equipment! Happy Days!

Blondie, I love the beach boys story. So handy. Your poor man looks like he got burned badly. So sweet your daughter just jumped into helping and her husband Mike what a helper. Blessings for lots of fun days at the lake. xoxo,Susie

Put some plastic forks in your containers, in and around the flowers. I did this for my tomato containers and other containers and the squirrels don't like getting stabbed by forks so they tend to move on : )

So happy for your husband that he didn't have to move all that sand. That's a back breaking job. Keep that # handy.Your daughter has the right idea...hire someone to get your house ready. That way you two will just be able to get there and then really enjoy what leisure time is supposed to be.Have a nice week.Balisha

First, no apologies needed for living your life instead of posting! I'm seeing a lot of that going around, and it's much more important. We just wait til you have time to post again :>) What a blessing to have all that help opening up and cleaning the summer place! I hope you enjoy every moment of your summer weekends there!

Jane,Wow that is a great story about the "beach boys" and what a great blessing to have them do that work for you guys. Don't worry about blogging and getting to everyone. It is summer here in the midwest and after that harsh winter we had enjoy the few months of this beautiful weather. Blog world will be here and so will we. Enjoy your summer.Kris

So glad to hear a stranger saw your need, and you were able to fill his as well. Definitely a God thing! We were so thankful to have our girls and #1s beau here to help us with the rock and mulch. It is break breaking work. No worries about not blogging...it is summer...ENJOY!!

WOW 300 blogs!!! I so feel your pain with the squirrels only my problem is birds. I swear they're not God's creatures, they come directly from the devil!! I have lots of potted plants on my patio. I walked outside the other day & a couple of my flowers were broken because a bird was using the pot to build a nest. Dean saw him in the act. UGH!!!!

Well, Janie, first off, you SHOULD, for sure, have taken photos of EIGHT YOUNG MEN working ON THE BEACH....:)Next, don't worry about not blogging or visiting as often as you THINK you should. Hey, this is summertime, girl, so just enjoy it. I am slowing myself down a little bit, too.Love your wall of sea things....

Hi Jane. I am trying not to stress out because there is never enough time to visit and chat with everyone. I know that I miss alot of what is going on but sometimes that can't be helped. I feel that once a week is about all I can do. I can't think of enough to write about. What joy you must get out of your lake house even though it's a lot of work at times. I love all the touches you are putting up. It is so pretty. Enjoy your summer there and don't stress..Have a happy week..Judy

Jane, I agree with Emily, you should have someone come in to do the cleaning just before you open the lake house, that way you won't be so tired you can't enjoy your time there. It is enough that you have to do the cooking, bed changing and picking up the rest of the time.Your poor husband...sunburns are no fun!Have a great week!

That's how we do when we go to the lake. Hubby works outside, me inside. Once we get it done we just relax. I'm so wanting to go, but until we find out what is going on with my heart and lungs, we're staying home. Hope it's soon. Heart Dr. today. Keeping my fingers crossed that he can get me in to the Lung Dr. quicker than Aug 5, which is the date they gave me! UGH!

Your place looks so pretty. Love the beachy items, and that Em can come change things here any time she wants to.

My daughter has been working on her porch. When it's done I'll do a post on it. SO, so pretty!

Yes, you should probably get a service in to clean, Jane! I'll bet they would have it done in no time for you and you would get to enjoy your first visit of the year. Love the beach {or should I say "lake"} inspired gallery wall. I love all the pieces your daughter put together here.

I love your blog and glad you decided to let us regular folk comment. I had a big rat in my bird feeder. That rat squeezed her big body through a one inch gap. Was I ever startled, because I really thought it was a squirrel until I got my camera out.

Hooray for the Beach Boys! That would've been back-breaking work for sure if your husband had to do all of that shoveling, hauling, and spreading of sand himself. I really like the patio wall with the nautical theme. Perfect for a beach house! Your poor hubby with that bad sunburn - he forgot to use sunscreen, huh? Don't worry about not blogging so much. It should be something pleasurable and fun for you; not burdensome and worrying about posting on a schedule. xoxo

It's hard Jane to get to read everyone's post, so I know what you mean. Even though I am retired, I have so much to do with the gardens and house and it takes longer for me since I have COPD - have to work awhile then sit down for a little bit and then back to my chores. I loved reading all about the Lake House. You need to have the help when you open up the house in the Spring - then it will be more restful for you and Mr.Have a great weekend.HugsMary

What a lovely story of the Beachboys! I love the idea of having a lake house as well as your main home, even though there is a lot of work involved. Lovely that your daughter helped out, and I like the patio wall decorations. I hope your new plant pots thrive away from the pesky squirrels.Happy week!Helen xox

What a lovely story of the Beachboys! I love the idea of having a lake house as well as your main home, even though there is a lot of work involved. Lovely that your daughter helped out, and I like the patio wall decorations. I hope your new plant pots thrive away from the pesky squirrels.Happy week!Helen xox

You have so much going on, Jane. Your husband is right... you've got to take some time to just kick back and enjoy life!!!

You have the squirrels ~ we have bunnies. For some reason, they haven't munched my garden down this year and I am finally getting to see my flowers bloom! Yay!!!

Hubby tried talking me into installing interlocking paver walkways & a patio this year. I said no way. I've already got too much on my plate, and this project we're hiring out! Hey - I'm turning 62 this year. At some point, we need to call in some help and sit back and watch! Love that you have the Beach Boys at your place. :)

The Beach Boys! I love it!! I've learned so much about "lake living" from reading your blog. I never realized you have to bring sand in like that. So glad you found a service to help you out. It was well worth it, I'm sure!

Hi Jane, Well I sure enjoyed catching up with your adventures.What a blessing The Beach Boys showed up to help. I know it is so much work to keep a lake home in top shape. My family in Michigan have lake homes and I know what they have to do. Love the gallery wall and the Lake Cottage sign is awesome.Enjoy the summer and don't worry about blogging. Spending time with family is more important.

I battled with the squirrels last summer with the flowers in our whiskey barrel. They were pulling them out faster than I could put them in! LOL I'm so glad you got the card for the beach boys, I'm sure your husband is VERY grateful too :o) Have a great weekend!~Des

Hi Jane, love your pictures of downtown Chicago. I showed my daughter and she said you were right around the corner from Sprinkles Cupcakes! We went walking at the lakefront last night and saw the fog roll in. What a great deal you found with the Beach Boys! We have friends who have a lake house in Michigan and they said it's almost impossible to get services out there to help. It used to be an annual tradition that we'd all get together at the house, dink Margarita's, shovel and rake the beach. Now that the hard work is done you can enjoy your summer!

Hi Jane, How are ya? I haven't been around the blog world for a few months, haven't even read any... thought of you this morning & just thought that I would see what you are up to..What a fun story & nice father's day surprise for your hubby, ( & yes, you should have taken a pic of 8 hunky guys working on your beach : ) Your Beach wall looks amazing, nice job, Emily... Enjoy your 4th holiday @ the lake, we will be @ our lake home also, with the whole crew... The lake house is double the work, but I always say "Double the Blessing"

JANE

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My blog is dedicated with much love to my late sister, Leslie, who lost her battle with cancer on November 27, 2007. I will always treasure precious memories of her in my heart. I miss her big smile, her laugh, great sense of humor and warmth. She was so creative and always encouraged the same from me. Leslie called me unique and I thank her for that, it made me move forward when I faltered. I think of her very, very often and miss her immensely. I hope I'm making her proud.

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Hi! My husband gave me the name Blondie a long time ago & it has stuck! I am a Midwestern girl but I now live in a quiet & beautiful neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. I adore my husband and four children, two boys, two girls.
I enjoy gardening, reading, cooking, antiquing, decorating and needlework crafts. I love decorating in a cottage sort of style but it's fun to mix it up a little!.
I currently work writing columns for two newspapers. I love creating essays about life in the city and country. And I've enjoyed blogging about the same for 9 years!
We have a year round home in the country on a huge lake in Southwest Michigan where I am always busy renovating, decorating, cooking, entertaining & relaxing! We also have a little place in the mountains of North Carolina. Life is good! I hope you will follow along on my adventures!

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